Vacuum breaker for water systems



'E. wQN. BQOSEY 2,250,291

VACUUM BREAKER FOR WATER SYSTEMS Filed Ju1y22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q lv Q "a "3 w r-"al k INVENTOR- fan are 14f A/Boosqy ATTORNEY.

July 22,- 1941 E. w. N. BOQSEY- VACUUM BREAKER E03 wATERsYsTEMs Filed.nil zz', 19:59

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I LNVENTOR. Edward l'MM-Boosey BY 2 i ATTORNEY PatentedJuly 22, 1941 onrreo stares PATENT orrice 2,250,291 VACUUM BREAKER FORWATER SYSTEMS Edward W. N. Bocsey, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 22, 1939, Serial No. 286,025

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-111) This invention relates to vacuum breakers forintroduction in a water system to a building wherein water may bedischarged to a container, sink or the like for the cleansing of devicestending to contaminate the water, the vacuum breaker functioning toprevent the drawing of the contaminated water into the system.

In many cases as, for instance, in hospitals where'bed pans, surgicalinstruments and all classes of devices require to be cleansed, they areusually washed in water supplied through a conduit opening to a tankbelow the liquid level therein and the opening of a faucet at a pointbelow the valve controlling the flow of water to the tank tends to causea vacuum and suck the contaminated water into the Water supply lines.

The object of the invention therefore is to provide a new and improveddevice of simple construction without moving parts and automaticallyfunctioning to prevent a vacuum in the water supply line in its normalcondition of use.

The structure embodying the invention may be of various forms as isindicated in the accompanying drawings in which- A Fig. 1 is a sectionalelevation showing my improved vacuum breaker in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an alternative structure corresponding in general to thatshown in Fig. l. r v

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional elevation of an alternative form of theinvention.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the location of the vacuum breakerin a water system and the container to which the water is discharged. 7

Fig. 5 shows an alternative form of construction of my improved vacuumbreaker and its association with a sink. v

In its preferred form, as shown in Fig. 1, the vacuum breaker consistsof a cast body i. At one side the body is provided with a tubularthreaded extension or hub 2 toreceive the pipe line 3 of the watersystem and at its lower end and diametrically opposite to the extension2 is a similar extension or hub 4 to receive the conduit 5 extendinginto the container for the cleansing of contaminated elements. Theconduit like portion extending in a vertical line from the extension 2to the extension 4 has provided therein a hollow cone 3 of approximatelythe fulldiameter of the conduit 3 at its upper end and having arestricted discharge aperture 7 at the lower end adjacent the threadedextension l. On one side of the conduit formed between the extensions 2and 4, the body is provided with an upwardly inclined passageway 8 whichopens at one end to the con- 'the lower end of the cone element 6. Thechannel or passageway 8 opens at its opposite end to a chamber 9 and isprovided with an upper curved wall If) tending to deflect any materialflowing in the channel 8 downwardly in the chamber 9 which has an outletH at its bottom for connection of a conduit. The chamber 9 at its upperend is formed with an open ended extension l2, the upper edge beingprovided with a series of spaced lugs l3 and a cap I4 is placed on theupper end of the lugs and is secured in place by a screw [5 whichextends downwardly into the chamber l2 and into a threaded aperture inthe terminal end 16 of the curved wall Ill. The spaces between the lugsprovide openings to atmosphere.

In Fig. 1 the bottom wall ll of the device is provided with a threadedaperture II and. a hollow space 18 is provided between said wall I1 andthe bottom wall of the channel 8 asshown while the vertical wall l9forms one side of the channel between the chamber 9 and the threadedaperture H. The aperture II is threaded to receive a pipe 29 which maybe positioned over the container and through which any drip in thevacuum breaker may fall back into the container or it may be positionedto discharge outside of the container.

In the tubular extension 2, there is provided a bar 28 extendingdiametrically across the extension and is centrally threaded to receivea screw 2|. The screw is provided with a preferably rounded head 22 atthe lower end and is provided at its upper end with a slot 23 enablingthe screw to be threaded upwardly or downwardly in the bar to positionthe head 22 nearer to or farther from the outlet aperture of the cone 6.Water systems differ in pressure or in head and if a high head prevails,the end 22 of the screw is positioned lower in the cone restricting thearea of the passageway and if a low or medium water head prevails, the.member 22 is raised to provide for a freer flow of water through thedevice.

An alternative structure for restricting the passageway may be providedas shownin dotted lines in Fig. 1. This consists of a screw Zlaextendingthrough a threaded aperture provided in the wall I and coneBand permitting the screw to be introduced to a greater or less distanceacross the interior of the lower end of the cone. This is desirable asit permits adjustment of the area of the water passageway from theexterior of the device.

The operation of the device will be more readily understood from Fig. 4wherein is shown a container 24 into which the conduit 5 enters at itsbottom or adjacent the bottom. The conduit 3 above the vacuum breaker isprovided with a valve 25 and is connected in a conduit portion 25 of thewater system. A branch conduit portion 21 forms part of the water systemand has a valve 28 below the valve 25 in the conduit 3.

Normally with the conduit 5 connected in the water system and opening tothe container below the liquid level if the valve 28 be opened while thevalve 25 is still open, liquid in the container 24 will be drawn intothe water system and thus discharged through the faucets or drinkingfountains connected therewith.

The apparatus when positioned in the system as indicated in Fig. 4functions to prevent siphonage of the contents of the tank or container24 into the water system by permitting air from atmosphere to pass intothe channel 8 and thence to the upper end of the conduit 5 which opensbelow the liquid level in the container 24. Thus any suction produced inthe line 26, as by the opening of the valve 29, is relieved by theinflow of air through the device into the upper end of the conduit 5 andthence to the main conduit 26 thereby preventing'entrainment of theliquid in the container 24 into the water system.

Itis sometimes desirable to provide a vacuum breaker in which any liquidthat may be discharged into the chamber 9 passes back into the conduit 5instead of to a separate conduit 29 as is the case with the structureshown in Fig. 1. If an outlet such as the conduit 29 is not desired oris not possible due to some different arrangement of parts, I providethe structure shown in Fig. 2.

In the form of structure shown in Fig. 2, I provide a channel 30 oftapered or conical form having a small opening 3| opening to the lowerextension 4 corresponding to that shown at 4 in Fig. 1 and a largeropening 32 open to the bottom of the chamber 9 corresponding to thechamber 9 in Fig. 1 and with this construction it is desirable to carrythe wall 6 of the cone member to a point opposite the opening 3| as isindicated at 33 in Fig. 2. With this arrangement, any water that mighttend to accumulate in the chamber 9 is passed back into the container towhich the pipe 5 opens. Thus any water, due to splash, that might passupwardly through the channel 8 into the chamber 9 may flow therefromthrough the passageway 30 to the conduit 5.

In Fig. 3 is shown another form of construction of the invention. Inthis structure there is a conduit like portion formed by the threadedaxially aligned portions 40 at the upper end and 4| at the lower end andpreferably integrally formed with the conduit section 49 is a conedelement 42 having a small terminal aperture 43 within the body 44. Thisbody is formed at one side of the tubular portions 40 and 4| with anextension 45 at the terminal upper end of which is a tubular portion 46having the apertured or slotted upper edge providing for intake of air.A cap 41 is provided for the tubular portion 46 supported in place bythe screw 48 and the tubular portion opening at its bottom on one sidethrough an aperture 49 in communication with the passageway 45.

Preferably a splash wall 50 is provided in the passageway 45 spaced fromthe upper and lower walls of the passageway and also spaced from theaperture 49 and thus providing secondary passageways 5| at the bottomand 52 at the top.

-from the bottom.

I also provide a dividing wall 53 between the bottom end of the conemember and the portion 4| to which the conduit 54 is connected andleading to a container. The dividing wall 53 is apertured at 55 in axialalignment with the opening 43 of the cone. The wall 56 of the chamber 44is upwardly inclined and the dividing wall 53 has an upwardly inclinedportion 51 parallel therewith and terminating short of a vertical wall58 of the extension 45. This wall 53 provides a lower passageway 59which opens to the passageway 45 of the extension and any water that maysplash upwardly into ,the device on delivery of water into the containeror otherwise can pass upwardly and through the passageway 5| to thechamber 46 and air may pass from the upper end of the chamber 46 throughthe passageway 52 to the opposite side of the wall 51 and thence to thecone. Thus there is an air and water passageway definitely provided inthis structure and is serviceable in many cases particularly where thisform of vacuum breaker is placed close to the liquid surface of acontainer. The function, however, is identical with that first describedand is to be incorporated in a water system in the same manner as thatshown in Fig. 1.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 5, I have indicated theadaptability of the device for use in conjunction with a sink 60 inwhich a certain volume of water is usually maintained and wherein thelevel of liquid may be provided by extending the outlet 5| thereinto acertain height This form of device is well adapted for use in sucharrangement as it can all be positioned beneath the drain board 62 onwhich are positioned the articles to be washed in the sink. In thiscase, the body of the vacuum breaker is indicated at 63 as having aninlet 64 on one side with which the valve controlled pipe 65 of thewater supply system is connected. Within the body of the device andpreferably open on one side to the inlet 65 is a coned element 66 havingan aperture 61 at a. right angle to the axis of the inlet pipe in thehub 64 and axially aligned with the axis of the apertured end of thecone is another threaded hub 68 for receiving an outlet pipe 69 openingto the bottom of the sink 60. The body 63 has opposite the inlet portiona conduit 10 which extends through the side wall of the sink 60 or isopen to the sink above the normal liquid level therein thus providingfor inflow of air under conditions as hereinafter stated. As in previousinstances, means is provided to control the area of the passagewaythrough the coned element 66 and in this in stance such means consistsof a threaded bolt like element ll having a coned lower end I2 which maybe brought nearer to or farther from the outlet aperture 61.

With the device as shown in Fig. 5, by opening the valve 12 in the inletline, water may be injected through the cone and the pipe 69 into thesink but if some other valve in the water system connected with the pipe63 is opened at a point in a plane vertically below the valve 12,suction will tend to be produced in the line 65. In view of the conduit10 opening to atmosphere within the sink, air will be drawn into thedevice and pass through the aperture 61 to the line 65 and preventsuction of the liquid from the sink through the line 69 and into thewater system.

Either of the devices shown therefore serve to prevent a vacuum in awater system connected therewith and thus prevent flow of contaminatedliquid from a container into the water system proper and therebyprevents contamination of Water flowing to drinking fountains andfaucets wherever they may be used in a building. The device is not onlyserviceable particularly for hospitals and such structures whereinconsiderable contamination of liquid in a container for washing orcleaning various articles may commonly occur but is also useful in anywater system where a conduit to a receptacle 'of some character extendsto below the liquid level in the receptacle. Its purpose therefore is toassure non-contamination of water in a water system, a portion of whichopens to a liquid body that may be contaminated.

From the foregoing description, it is believed evident that the deviceis of simple and inexpensive construction; that by this construction, Ihave been able to dispense with all moving parts which often fail tofunction, and that the various features and objects of the invention areattained by the construction described, it being pointed out thatvarious changes in the form and arrangement of the parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is- 1. A vacuum breaker for connection in the conduit of awater system discharging to a liquid container, comprising a chamberedbody having vertically aligned openings for connection in the conduit,and a hollow coned element therein tapering in the direction of thedischarge through the conduit and having an open smaller end, the

body having a chambered portion including a passageway of inverted Uform open at one end adjacent the small end of the cone and at itsopposite end to the chambered element and the chambered element havingan opening to atmosphere above said U shaped passageway and an openingtherebelow for discharge of liquid from the chambered portion.

2. A vacuum breaker for connection in a conduit of a water systemdischarging to a liquid container, comprising a body having axiallyaligned hubs on one side thereof for connection in and forming part ofthe conduit, a coned element opening at its base to the inlet hub of thebody and extending toward the opposite hub, said body having apassageway on one side thereof opening to the body between the alignedhubs and a chambered portion to which said passageway opens, saidchambered portion having an opening to atmosphere in its upper sectionand an opening in its lower section providing for discharge of liquidtherefrom.

3. A vacuum breaker for connection in a water discharge conduit of awater system wherein the said conduit has a discharge opening below theliquid level in a container, comprising a chambered body having apassageway on one side through which liquid is discharged from theconduit, a passageway on the other side leading to atmosphere, and apassageway below said last named passageway through which liquid mayflow from said other side of the body to the first named passageway, thearrangement providing for flow of air to the water-discharge conduit inthe event of reduction in pressure therein to thereby prevent flow ofliquid from the container to the water discharge conduit;

' EDWARD W. N. BOOSEY.

